Network pharmacology combined with affinity ultrafiltration to elucidate the potential compounds of Shaoyao Gancao Fuzi Decoction for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2024-08, Vol.330, p.118268-118268, Article 118268
• Main Authors: Fu, Weiliang, Shentu, Chengyu, Chen, Dan, Qiu, Junjie, Zong, Chuhong, Yu, Hengyuan, Zhang, Yiwei, Chen, Yong, Liu, Xuesong, Xu, Tengfei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affinity ultrafiltration; Network pharmacology; Rheumatoid arthritis; Shaoyao Gancao Fuzi Decoction
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118268

Shaoyao Gancao Fuzi Decoction (SGFD), has been employed for thousands of years in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with remarkable clinical efficacy. However, the material basis underlying the effectiveness of SGFD still remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the material basis of SGFD through the application of network pharmacology and biological affinity ultrafiltration. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was employed to characterize the components in SGFD, the identified 145 chemical components were mainly categorized into alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and monoterpenoids according to the structures. Network pharmacology method was utilized to identify potential targets and signaling pathways of SGFD in the RA treatment, and the anti-inflammatory and anti-RA effects of SGFD were validated through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Moreover, as the significant node in the pharmacology network, TNF-α, a classical therapeutic target in RA, was subsequent employed to screen the interacting compounds in SGFD via affinity ultrafiltration screening method, 6 active molecules (i.e.,glycyrrhizic acid, paeoniflorin, formononetin, isoliquiritigenin, benzoyl mesaconitine, and glycyrrhetinic acid) were exhibited significant interactions. Finally, the significant anti-inflammatory and anti-TNF-α effects of these compounds were validated at the cellular level. In conclusion, this study comprehensively elucidates the pharmacodynamic material basis of SGFD, offering a practical reference model for the systematic investigation of traditional Chinese medicine formulas. [Display omitted] •Research on material basis of SGFD for RA treatment was conducted.•Network pharmacology combined with affinity ultrafiltration for active component screening.•SGFD ameliorates RA mainly through NF-κB pathway.